Four University of Dayton alumni and community leaders with significant experience in business, nonprofit, government and communications sectors were named to the University of Dayton board of trustees for 2024-25.

“This group of very committed alumnae will greatly enrich the University's board with their extensive and diverse professional backgrounds,” UD Board Chairperson Richard J. (Rick) Omlor said. “Though their terms have just begun, individually and collectively they will positively impact what is already an engaged and high-functioning board.”

Hailee Rennels, Lisa Rich-Milan, Lisa Payne Wansley and Sharon D. White joined the board July 1 for three-year terms. Rennels will serve as a recent alumni trustee, a position for members three to eight years post-graduation with a record of student engagement in volunteer and philanthropy initiatives and continued involvement with UD after graduation.

Rennels, the third recent alumni trustee in board history, earned her bachelor’s degree in marketing in 2018. She is in acquisition marketing at JPMorgan Chase and was previously employed by Lane Bryant, Lamark and Vivial, working on digital marketing efforts. As a UD student, she was president of the Student Alumni Association, which merged with the Student Philanthropy Council to form Students for University Advancement in 2020. She also was a resident assistant and worked in the Office of Community Standards and Civility and for conference services.

Rennels previously sat on the UD Alumni Association board of directors, served on her Reunion Weekend committee and most recently was chair of day10, UD’s young alumni group.

Rich-Milan earned a bachelor's degree in accounting from UD in 1985. An experienced professional in the pharmaceutical, biotechnology, diagnostics and clinical research industries, she is co-founder and CEO of Cannovation Clinical Research Partners LLC. She also held senior leadership roles with companies including Maridose, Diversigen, Caligor Coghlan Pharma Services, CompuNet Clinical Laboratories, Synthon Pharmaceuticals North America, Roche Diagnostics, UCB Pharma and Bristol-Myers Squibb.

Her community involvement includes board membership for the Academy of Managed Care Pharmacy and membership in the Healthcare Businesswoman’s Association, as well as service with the American Heart Association, Women of Color in Pharma, Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority, Dayton Chamber of Commerce, Clothes That Work, Greater Dayton Area Hospital Association, the Peachtree Rose Club and Leadership Dayton. She joined the UD Business Advisory Council in 2021 and is an active participant in UD Black alumni town halls and the University’s first Black alumni leadership summit.

Wansley earned her bachelor’s degree in political science from UD in 1984 and has a master’s degree in public communication from Fordham University. She retired in 2023 from her position as senior vice president of environmental justice, community and legislative relations at the New York Power Authority, where she worked for seven years. Before that, Wansley served in the Bronx district attorney’s office as administrative chief and director of community affairs for more than 20 years.

Wansley also was an adjunct professor of communications at the College of New Rochelle from 1999-2004 and a former regional representative to the New York state governor’s office. She has served on multiple boards and government initiatives in New York, and in 2020 won the "Above and Beyond” award given annually to "powerful women in New York State that have demonstrated exemplary leadership in their field and have made significant contributions to society."

In 2022, Wansley and her spouse established the Payne Wansley Endowed Scholarship to help support UD students from underserved communities. She also was the 2023 recipient of the UD Alumni Special Achievement Award.

White, who graduated from UD in 1978 with a bachelor’s degree in television communication,  is a 30-year veteran communications and community relations professional. She currently serves as system director of community and government relations and site communications for Premier Health.

Before joining Premier Health, White worked for the Dayton Development Coalition and WDTN-TV. She’s won numerous awards for her journalistic work and community engagement, including the Regional Communicator of the Year award from the International Communications Training Institute, Central Region Volunteer of the Year from the National Urban League and the Dayton YWCA Women of Influence and Distinguished Ambassador awards. A member of Alpha Kappa Alpha sorority, she’s also served on boards for the Ohio Arts Council, the Big Hoopla, the Salvation Army, Dayton Art Institute, Greater Dayton RTA and the Dayton Area Broadcasters Hall of Fame.

A longtime champion for UD – including her time as a student cheerleader – White became president of the UD Alumni Association this year, and is a past recipient of the association’s Special Achievement Award.

The University also thanked the six trustees who finished their terms in 2024. They include Cathy Babington (18 years of service), Brother Bill Campbell, S.M. (18), Darlene Marlowe (15), Jenell Ross (nine), Jen Weed (three) and recent alumni trustee Lyric Fields (three).